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Soprano Catherine Compton / Special to the Register

An image from Alexander's Photo for Gallery Night. / Special to the Register

Tech N9ne / Special to the Register

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1. Brit prog rockers The Moody Blues

return to perform at the Des Moines Civic Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The band is known for hits like “Nights in White Satin,” “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” and “The Voice.” The Moody Blues style fuses classical music with traditional rock. $57.50-$77.50. www.ticketmaster.com

2. Soprano Catherine Compton and pianist Allan Armstrong

open the new chamber series at Salisbury House and Gardens with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The program highlights the music of sibling composers Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn. $25 for adults, $15 for students. www.salisburyhouse.org ... And if you’d prefer a little more je ne sais quoi, try the concert of French choral and instrumental music at 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at Faith Lutheran Church in Clive. www.faithlc.org

3. California singer-songwriter Claudia Russell

takes a turn in the Progressive Voices series at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the First Unitarian Church. Her husband, Bruce Kaplan, will back her up with mandolin and guitar and accompany her to a family reunion in nearby Hartford. Russell’s mother, Marilyn Pendry, grew up in Iowa before heading to Hollywood to dance in “White Christmas” and “An American in Paris.” $15 in advance, $20 at the door. www.brownpapertickets.com

4. 18th annual Fall Gallery Night

Historic Valley Junction props open its doors a little later than usual from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday. Seven galleries will show off their new work, including Alexander’s Photos, a recent transplant from Ingersoll Avenue. (Co-owner Steve Alexander took the photo that’s pictured.) Free admission. www.valleyjunction.com

6. Portland singer-songwriter Todd Snider

plays Wooly’s at 8 p.m. Saturday. Snider released his first album, “Songs for the Daily Planet,” in 1994, featuring his tongue-in-cheek take on grunge, “Talkin’ Seattle Grunge Rock Blues.” Rolling Stone named Snider’s most recent album, “Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables,” as one of the top 50 albums of 2012. The Coal Men open. $20. www.ticketfly.com